Strathclyde University lecturer avoids jail

An academic who was described as being a “master manipulator” has avoided being sent to prison for sexually assaulting a string of young male students.

45 year-old Professor Kevin O’Gorman abused a total of eight young men whilst working at Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt universities between 2006 and 2014.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard how O’Gorman abused his position of privilege to prey on vulnerable students who hoped to gain entry to advanced degrees.

The court heard how O’Gorman targeted those who needed help and managed to convince them that they couldn’t succeed without his assistance.

Sheriff Alistair Noble heard one of the victims say that O’Gorman visited him at his flat and ordered him to remove his trousers and bend over a bed.

He said that he had been whipped at least 10 times which left O’Gorman “out of breath and red faced.”

Another complainer described, how over the course of a Skype call, he was made to stand in a corner and beat himself on the bottom with a wooden spoon.

But on Thursday, Sheriff Noble decided that the nature of the offences meant that O’Gorman didn’t need to be sent to prison.

He had heard that whilst O’Gorman continued to deny any criminal conduct, the accused had expressed “remorse and regret” for some of his actions.

The sheriff had also heard former academic colleagues describe O’Gorman as a dedicated professional who cared for the interests of his student.

The court also heard that O’Gorman was a former scoutmaster who had helped young Scouts in times of difficulty.

This prompted Sheriff Noble to order O’Gorman to perform 240 hours of community service and be supervised by the authorities for the next three years.

The lecturer was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years and he was also ordered to spend the next six months wearing a tag. O’Gorman cannot leave his home between the hours of 7pm to 7am.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Noble told O’Gorman: “You continue to maintain the position that you advanced at your trial - that whilst did behave in an inappropriate way, what you did was not criminal.

“You position differed from those who gave evidence against you - I found the witnesses to be truthful and credible.

“Given the nature of the offences to which you have been convicted of, I have decided that there are other ways of dealing with you other than the imposition of a custodial sentence.”

O’Gorman, of Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, denied a total of 19 charges against 11 young men.

However, Sheriff Noble acquitted O’Gorman on three of the allegations and convicted him on all other charges following a hearing last month.

The verdicts came at the end of a set of proceedings which began earlier this year. All of O’Gorman’s victims have anonymity.

Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports about characters.

The academic was the Director of Heriot-Watt’s School of Management and Languages.

One victim told the court that he first met O’Gorman in 2006. The 32-year-old man said that at the time he had suffered from mental health problems and had twice quit university.

During an online conversation with Professor O’Gorman in 2009, the academic asked him about his return to university.

O’Gorman told him he had “screwed up”and would “definitely need to be punished”.

The man said he initially thought it was a joke. But O’Gorman asked him where he lived, if he was alone and said he would need to be “belted”.

The man said: “I was quite scared. I thought maybe it wasn’t a real thing.”

When the academic arrived the two sat down and O’Gorman told him to take down his trousers and underwear before hitting him with a belt 10 times on the backside.

O’Gorman then hugged the man “fiercely” and said: “I bet it feels good now.”

Another victim, now aged 38, told the court that O’Gorman repeatedly manhandled male PhD students and that they developed a “collective coping mechanism”.

Another student, aged 24, told of how O’Gorman told him to take off his trousers on a Skype video call as “punishment” for not working hard enough.

He said O’Gorman told him: “If you act or behave like a child, you’ll be treated like a child.”

O’Gorman claimed that he didn’t abuse the students. He claimed that when he ordered a student to stand in the corner, he was following a “mindfulness technique” similar to the one used by Adam Smith, the 18th century economist.

In closing submissions, depute procurator fiscal Nicole Lavelle said O’Gorman claims to be following Adam Smith’s example was incredible.

She added: “This was not a bizarre mindfulness technique but a criminal act done for sexual gratification.”

On Thursday, defence advocate Niall McCluskey told Sheriff Noble that a court appointed social worker had concluded that O’Gorman didn’t need to go to prison.

The court heard that the nature of the offences were such that the matter could be dealt with a non custodial disposal.

He added: “He is not been assessed at being of a high risk of reoffending.”

Mr McCluskey said his client suffered from “stress” and “depression” but still maintained he was innocent any wrongdoing.

He added: “He maintains the position advanced at his trial. He continues to deny any criminal activity but expresses regret and remorse for the inappropriate aspects of his behaviour.

He has recently been prescribed anti-depressants He is trying to see the positive aspects of his current predicament. He spends his time caring for his mother.”

Mr McCluskey then read a number of character references provided to the court. The references told of how O’Gorman was a “distinguished” academic who cared deeply for his students.

Mr McCluskey added: “It is said that he is a boisterous character but naive.”

Another reference read: “He’s always had the best interests of students at heart and has always placed them at the centre of attention.”

Another reference told of O’Gorman had been a ‘highly regarded’ scoutmaster - one former scout told of how the accused had helped him during his time in the youth organisation.

Mr McCluskey added: “It is my submission my lord that you can deal with this with the imposition of a non custodial disposal.”

O’Gorman didn’t comment as he left the court to return home to Milngavie.

However, one of his victims waived their right to anonymity to tell of their dismay of O’Gorman’s behaviour.

Strathclyde University is holding an independent inquiry into its handling of past complaints of sexual misconduct against O'Gorman.

Announcing the inquiry, the university's principal Professor Sir Jim McDonald said: "There are questions we must ask about our processes and procedures.'

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